Tally device.



' Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

muikwum COLUMBIA PLANoGrgAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

THOMAS I. FREEBURN, 013 WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TALLY DEVICE.

Application filed March 20, 1915.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS I. FREEB RN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tally Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby a count may be kept of a plurality ofarticl'es of various descriptions, as for example, the various articles of wearing apparel and household use which are handled by laundries.

The invention comprises tabs each adapted to represent an article, numbers arranged to cooperate respectively with said tabs to indicate the number of articles, and labels or name plates each adapted to indicate the kind or character of the article. The tabs, numbers, and labels are all organized to facilitate the keeping of a tally, the several tabs being arranged to initially conceal the numbers but being movable to expose the numbers, so that each tab maybe moved manually, as occasion requires, to expose a number of a number series.

In addition to the aforesaid elements of the tally device, the invention comprises manually operative means arranged to act upon all the tabs which have been displaced from their initial positions, to return them to said positions after the tally of each lot of articles has been recorded.

Of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which the present invention may be embodied: Figure 1 represents a front elevation ofa tally device, some of the tabs of which have been displaced from their initial positions, the remainder of the tabs occupying their initial positions. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of the device. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section, on a larger scale, as indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

. The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

The foundation of the device as shown consists of a baseboard 10. Strips 11 of thin sheet metal of channel cross section are fastened to the baseboard to hold labels or name plates 12 and number strips 13. The channel strips 11 are open at their ends, and the labels .12 and number strips 13 may be mounted inthe channel strips by inovingthem endwise into the ends of the channel strips Serial No. 15.780.

and sliding them to the desired positions. Each label 12 bears the name of an article; for example, Napkins, Table cloths, Towels, Handkerchiefs. There may be any desired number and assortment of such labels. Each number strip 13 bears the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4i, 5, and so forth, arranged in sequence; and each number strip and label which are intended to cooperate with each other are arranged in contiguous endto-end relation as shown.

The baseboard is provided with a plurality of series of tabs 14 each of which represents an article. Each tab as shown is made of thin sheet metal and is formed with a substantially tubular hinge portion 15. (.See Fig. All the tabs of each series are arranged upon a hinge-rod 16, the board being provided with such rods to the number of series required. The rods as shown are supported by screw-eyes 17 whose shanks are screwed into the board. I preferably employ a sufiicient number of screw-eyes 17 to keep the tabs spaced laterally from one another and to keep the tabs from being displaced longitudinally of the rods. Each tab as shown is disposed between two screw-eyes 17. Each tab as shown has a bend 18 whereby its free end 19 is caused to stand away from the baseboard, when the tab is in its initial position, to facilitate manipulation. The spacing of the numerals on the number strips is substantially the same as the lateral spacing of the tabs of each series, and the elements are so organized that when the tabs are in their upper positions they stand in front of and conceal their respective numerals on the number strips.

The device is intended to be operated as follows: Assuming that the sorter, that is, the person who sorts the articles, is about to sort and record a plurality of articles of a lot, he will set aside the articles one by one and will turn down one tab for each article so set aside. For example, supposing the first article picked up is a napkin, the sorter will deposit that article in an appropriate place or receptacle and will turn down the first tab of the Napkins series. If the next article is a napkin, the sorter will turn down the second tabof the Napkins series, and will continue to turn down one additional tab in this series for each napkin found in the lot. In like manner the sorter will turn down the first tab of the Table cloths series upon picking out the first Specification bf Letters Patent. Pate ted Sept. 28, 1315.

table cloth fromthe lot, and will turn down an additional tab of that series for each table cloth found in the. lot. This method of procedure will be followed, due consideration being given to articles of other description, .until all the articles of the lot in question that the condition of the tally device as shown by Fig. 1 indicates the kinds and quantities of articles which have been handled, the sorter can see at a glance that siX napkins, four table cloths, three scarfs,

five towels, three handkerchiefs, three wrappers, three aprons, three hose (pairs) three chemises, and one sheet, are indicated for the purpose of record; and when a suitable record has been made, the tally device may be restored to its initial condition by returning the displaced tabs to their respective num her-concealing positions.

The device'is provided with means whereby all the displaced tabs may be simultaneously returned by a single operation to their number-concealing positions. The said means'includes a frame or grid consisting of parallel side bars 20, 20, cross-rods 21, pivoted links 22, a rockshaft 23, operating arms 24, 24, and a handle 25. The handle as shown is carried by one'of the arms 24;

I of a parallel ruler, to the end that the several cross-rods 21 will all have the same kind and the same degree of movement. The several cross rods 21 are arrangedbelow the respective series of tabs with which they are intended to cooperate, and are arranged to be lapped by the free ends of the tabs when the tabs are turned down. A sufficient movement of the handle 25 in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2, will cause the severalrods'21 to restore all the downturned tabs to their respective initial positions, the rods passing upwardly in front of the hingerods 16 in the course of returning the tabs. In Fig. 3 one of the'rods 21 is represented by solid lines in its lower or initial. position,

. and is represented by dotted lines in its upl per position, a link 22 being also represented in the two positions corresponding to those of the rod. This figure also includes one of the tabs 14 represented by dotted lines in its scope ofthe invention should not be limited in this respect, for it would be possible,

though not so desirable, to arrange the number strips to be concealed when the tabs are in their lower position, and to be exposed when the tabs are raised. Furthermore, the invention should-not be limited, excepting where so specified, to the character or direction of movement of the tabs, for the in-,

vention contemplates the combination of one or more number series and number-concealing devices capable of being moved from number-concealingposition for the purpose specified, without any undue limitation as to the character, direction, or extent ofsuch movement.

It is apparent that the labels 12, number strips 13 and tabs 14 may be readily rearranged to suit various requirements. For example, the labels and numberstrips are interchangeable; thatis to say they'may be withdrawn from the channel strips 11 'in' which they are shown and may be inserted into any of the'otherchannel strips without otherwise disturbing the device. Forexample, the device as shown has provisions for keeping tally of six aprons and fifteen sheets If it should be-desired to rearrange the'device so as to have provisions for keeping tally of fifteen apronsand six sheets, the Sheets label and the Aprons label could be readily interchanged. 1 This would be accomplished by 'withdrawing; the

Sheets label from the left-hand end of its V holder and withdrawing thenumber strip at the right of Aprons "and the Aprons label from the right-hand end of their holder, replacing the labels in the desired positions and replacing the withdrawn number strip in its former position. Other re-- arrangements of asimilar nature can also be mechanism. e 7

'It isnot always'possible to determine'in advance the mostdesirable arrangement and assortment of the. several] indicating eleefiected without disturbing the operating are capable of being easily-detached, inde- .pendently of each other, from the hinge rods 16., without disturbing any other-elements of the device, and said tabs may be readily reprovide additional labels 12 in accordance with such change, the change could be easily eflected as follows. Supposing it were found thatthere were more than the neces- -ment's,' and sometimes it becomes necessary 7 to vary the arrangement and assortment after the devlce has been 1n use; The tabs 14 sary number of tabs in the Sheets series and that it would be desirable to use some of the tabs in said series for keeping tally of articles of another kind, the necessary change could be made by detaching two or three of the tabs in the original Sheets series to leave a blank space for an additional label 12. The detaching of the unnecessary tabs would be readily effected by grasping the tubular portion 15 of each tab with a pair of pincers and moving the latter to bend open the tubular portion. Having divided the original series of tabs into two series, a corresponding change would be made in the original Sheets number strip 13 by withdrawing the latter from its holder and cutting oif the right-hand portion at a point consistent with the number of tabs remaining in the Sheets series. An additional label could then be placed in the holder to register with the gap left by the detached tabs, and an additional number strip could be placed in the holder to cooperate with the remaining tabs at the right of such gap.

I claim: 1. A tally device comprising a supporting element, an indicating element lncludlng a series of freely movable hinged drops mounted upon said supporting element, one of said elements bearing a series of numerals arranged to be concealed respectively by said drops when the latter are up, and exposed to view when said drops are down, said drops being arranged to cross their top vertical center sufficiently to remain in number concealing position against said supporting element, and means arranged to move said drops, or as many of them as are in eX- posing position, to concealing position.

2. A tally device comprising a base, a plurality of parallel series of hinged drops mounted thereon, each of said drops being free to move from a predetermined initial position to a predetermined tally-indicating position, and vice versa, a movable grid including a plurality of parallel bars arranged to engage all the said drops of the several said series respectively, and means connecting said grid and base to guide said grid so i as to move said drops, or any number of them, from said tally-indicating position to said initial position.

In testimony whereof I have afiiXed my signature.

. THOMAS I. FREEBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

